In Greyhounds with paw pad corns, is surgical excision more effective at resolving lameness than extirpation?

Abstract

PICO question
 In Greyhounds (and Sighthounds) with recurring pedal corns, is surgical excision in comparison to corn extirpation more effective at resolving lameness?
 
 Clinical bottom line
 Category of research question
 Treatment
 The number and type of study designs reviewed
 Three case series were included, all three were retrospective, one included a prospective component. There was one opinion-based narrative review and one opinion-based article.
 Strength of evidence
 Weak
 Outcomes reported
 Extirpation allows only a short palliation of lameness and repeated treatment is required at variable intervals. Surgical excision may provide good rates of short-term resolution however, in the long-term recurrence rates are still moderate. It should also be born in mind that further corns may develop in different digits.
 Conclusion
 In Greyhounds (and Sighthounds) with recurring pedal corns, surgical excision of the corn is more likely to provide long-term resolution of lameness in comparison to extirpation. However, the current level of evidence on this topic is weak.
 
 How to apply this evidence in practice
 The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
 Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision-making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.